Buoyant safety light



Feb. 20, 1945. MARR 2,369,971

BUOYANT SAFETY LIGHT Filed March 30. 1942 BULKHEAD IN VEN TOR.

Patented Feb. 20, 1945 BUOYANT SAFETY LIGHT George M. Marr, Woodhaven, N. Y. Application March 30', 1942, Serial No. 436,732

2 Claims.

This invention is directed to an improvement in safety lights, which while adapted for many uses is primarily designed for use in connection with life boats, life rafts, life preservers, and other life-saving apparatus.

The object of the invention is the utilization of a readily accessible and removable part of the structure as a base for solely carrying and supporting all vital parts of the light, so that all such parts may be removed from or applied to the casing as a unit. This materially facilitates the initial assemblage of such vital parts, and equally facilitates their removal and replacement for adjustment, repair or replacement.

The invention is illustrated in preferred form in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the improved light.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same,

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the light in normally inverted position, as when in storage or supported for ready removal for use, the supporting bracket for the light being shown.

The improved light comprises a casing l3 of metal or other appropriate material, preferably but not necessarily of uniform diameter throughout and of greater length than diameter. A Fresnel lens I l is secured in'position to close and seal the upper end of the casing and to project above the same, a guard I!) being secured in place to protect the lens.

The lower end of the casing is provided with a bottom plate ll, removably secured to the casing by nuts or the like l6, and sealing the bottom of the case, if necessary, and as preferred, by a gasket l8.

A battery cage 24 is secured to and carried solely by the bottom plate I! and is shaped and sized to receive and hold a battery 25 for supplying energy to the light bulb.

A protector tube 2| is removably secured to the battery cage 24, of relatively small diameter and of a length to extend to and beyond the upper end of the casing proper and within the lens I I, where the tube 2|, either directly or with additional sleeve protection, is conventionally formed to receive a socket for an appropriate light bulb IS. The arrangement is such that the light bulb is arranged in position for proper distribution through the lens H. Service conductors 23 connecting the battery 25 and the bulb is lead through and are protected by the tube 2|. A gravity switch 22 is in the circuit and also included within the tube 2|, such switch being of any well known construction, forming no part of the present invention, and functions to break the light circuit when the safety light is inverted, as shown in Figure 3, which is its storage position, and to automatically close the circuit when the safety light is upright, as in Figures 1 and 2, which is its operative position.

From the above description, it will be understood that all vital parts, and particularly those parts which are liable to require repairer replacement, are carried solely and alone by the bottom plate l1, and are removed and replaced as a unit with and incident to the removal or replacement of such plate. This is a very important and desirable characteristic of devices of this character, for the safety lamp may remain inactive for long periods, during which inspection may reveal the necessity forcorrection or replacement of some one'or more parts, or after.

recovery following prolonged immersion in use, may equally require part repair or replacement. Under any such circumstances, a simple loosening and removal of the bottom plate I! carries with it all necessary parts of the device, which are thus exposed, rendering repair and replacement a simple and convenient operation.

The use of the safety lamp is well understood.

When stored on a ships deck, it is ordinarily supported for convenient removal in a bracket 26, particularly designed, as shown in Figure 3, to support, the safety light in an inverted position when the gravity switch is open and the bulb IS without energy. The bracket is such as to permit convenient displacement as by a pull, and the safety light is connected to the particular life-saving apparatus by a flexible connector (not shown) connected to a ring I5, carried by a reinforcing band I4 encircling and secured to the casing.

The casing is of water-tight construction and of sufficient size and weight to produce buoyancy when immersed in water, or other liquids, with a low center of gravity to maintain the lens and enclosed bulb within it in an upright position, with the lens floating above the water, and with light rays projected over an arc of at least above the surface of the water.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A buoyant light comprising a waterproof casing, a transparent dome sealed to and closing the upper end of the casing, a removable cap closing and sealing the lower end of the casing, a housing centrally disposed within the casing extending longitudinally thereof and secured at its lower end to said housing adjacent cap, battery means within said the lower end of the casing, an

incandescent lamp carried by the upper end of said housing within said dome, and connections between said battery means and lamp including a gravity switch positioned within said housing, the cap, housing, battery means, lamp and con nections being removable and replaceable as a unit with respect to the casing.

2. A buoyant light comprising a waterproof casing, an element to permit the passage of light, said element sealed to and closing the upper end of the casing, a removable member closing and sealing the lower end of the casing, a housinglike construction centrall disposed within the GEORGE M. MARR. 

